On January 18, 2024, in Sydney, a Synaxis of the Bishops of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia took place under the presidency of Archbishop Makarios of Australia.
During the Synaxis, the Archbishop conveyed the warm wishes and blessings of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to the Hierarchs. He also informed them about current issues and initiatives of the Mother Church and the Holy Archdiocese. Subsequently, all the agenda items were studied, and the following were announced to the reverent clergy and the faithful people of the Archdiocese of Australia:
1. The venerable leader of Orthodoxy, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by his distinguished entourage, will honor with his presence and officiate the celebrations for the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia. The Ecumenical Patriarch will arrive in the fifth continent, specifically at Kingsford Smith International Airport in Sydney, on Friday, October 4, 2024, and will depart on Saturday, the 19th of the same month.
The official welcome of the Ecumenical Patriarch will take place on Saturday, October 5, on Cleveland Street, where clergy and laity will accompany the Ecumenical Patriarch to the Holy Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Theotokos in Sydney, where the official Doxology will be performed.
During the blessed stay of the Ecumenical Patriarch in Australia, two Divine Liturgies will be celebrated. Firstly, in Sydney, on Sunday, October 6, 2024, specifically at the International Convention Centre (ICC), and secondly, in Melbourne, on Sunday, October 13, 2024, specifically at the Margaret Court Arena.
APOSTOLIC VISIT OF THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW TO AUSTRALIA 100 YEARS OF THE HOLY ARCHDIOCESE OF AUSTRALIA
Details of the program for the visit of the Ecumenical Patriarch to Australia will be announced in due course.
2. In the current year 2024, marking the centennial anniversary of the establishment of the Archdiocese, regional Youth Conferences will be held with the general theme: “We are ready for the future – 100 years of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia.” The Conferences will take place as follows, in chronological order:
– Melbourne, Saturday, January 27
– Sydney, Saturday, June 8
– Perth, Saturday, July 17
– Adelaide, Saturday, July 20
– Brisbane, Saturday, July 27
– Canberra, Saturday, September 7
– Northcote, Saturday, September 21
3. On the occasion of the feast of Archbishop Makarios’ name day, the Bishops expressed their gratitude and respect to him. They thanked him for his loving and unifying pastoral care and wished him many years, conveying at the same time the wishes of the clergy and the people of the respective Archdiocesan Regions.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou
